Hey everyone,
A quick break chapter that will concern a lot of content and I just want to let you all know that I plan to have more of these as I really want to try and even out the chapters between CR and Non-CR. I don't want just one of those simple 'They read Chapter after Chapter after Chapter' things with no progress.
I did know a good one where the readers didn't really have much of a choice and where they even brought people from the past, but that one has been long since deleted and personally I really hope it will be reposted someway someday as it really was very, very good. It started in Second during the first Quidditch training session.
Also, I made a little alteration to the last chapter and that is to the # of friends Severus actually has, but that he forgot about. I decided to change it from 6 to 8, because I decided that I should add a certain set of senior twins to the group and that these two were two years senior to Severus, but still very close to him and his Year Mates.
Remember that hint,

Venquine1990


Chapter 09
Who Did All Of This?

Ron's POV

"For those of you interested, I took the liberty and it seems we only have two more chapters before we get to that so-well known chapter called Cat, Rat and Dog." This worries me as I had not expected that I would have so little time to get Pettigrew caught and ready for transport by the Ministry once the truth comes out.
"I need to take action." Goes through my mind and I say: "I don't know about you guys, but I feel like changing into something more comfortable, right?" And quite a few of my fellow Gryffs all nod, the teachers smiling at us to give their approval and Hermione and Harry's eyes proving that they are onto my little diversion.
I nod at them and we all move back to Gryffindor tower, the portrait of the Fat Lady still here, even though she herself is no longer there and the Headmaster had actually send one of her friends to take her place, the woman herself known as Viola and whose portrait is known to hang in the Antechamber of the Great Hall.

Once inside, do Hermione and I share a look, the girl winking at me and smiling softly before she moves up to her dormitory and when we hear her open the door to it, do I smile as I hear her gasp: "Oops." A clear sign that Crookshanks is no longer inside the girl's dormitory. Yet I don't show this glee as I instead grumble:
"Blasted cat, why won't it stay where it belongs. That's it! Book or no book, I'm going and I'm going to make sure I can protect my pet from that fiend." And while many students seem shocked at my outburst, do I not allow myself to grin in victory until I have reached the lonely staircase up to the boy's dorm myself.
"Plenty of witnesses. That rat won't have any clue as to why I'm really doing this, he'll just, like everyone else, think I'm out to protect him. I know he'll probably blame me for not doing this sooner, but at least he won't get suspicious until the right time." And with those thoughts do I hurry myself up to my dorm.

There I feel a new wave of disgust overwhelm me as Scabbers is actually looking straight back at me from on top of my own pillow and while making the mental note to have that pillow cleaned and checked for spells, do I calmly walk over and say: "Don't worry, Scabbers. I won't let that nasty piece of work get you anymore."
And while the rat is still a little tense, do I pick him up and put him in his cage, faking to look worried as I say: "I need someone to work on this lock. That blasted cat is smart enough to recognize when I have you near me, he might just be smart enough to open this lock as well. Better ask Percy to stabilize it before anything else."
And as if the rat can understand me – which I know for a fact that he can – does Scabbers relax and move himself to hide under a bit of old grain and breadcrumbs, the only thing I can really afford instead of the usual ground that is laid inside rat cages, yet knowing now what I do, do I feel that the rat deserves no less.

I then move out of the dorm and up to one of the higher floors, Percy having gone up before I did and when the Head Boy looks at me shocked, do I set Scabbers' cage onto one of the three beds in the room and loudly say: "Percy, can you charm Scabber's cage to make sure Hermione's cat can't damage it or open the lock."
And while making sure Scabbers can only see the back of my head, do I wink at my brother and mouth: Sneakoscope." My elder brother looks temporarily shocked, but then plasters on a slightly fake smile and says: "No problem, Ron. I kind of did so when I first took Scabbers to Hogwarts, but extra security is never wrong."
And the boy raises his wand and to my happiness does it seem as if Scabbers is too fast asleep for the man behind the rat mask to recognize that there are more than just a locking spell being cast on the cage. I then whisper: "And extension charm too, for it Scabbers tries growing beyond normal measures, okay? Just trust me."

And while I have no doubt that my brother is now very weirded out and worried, does he still cast the spell upon the cage, making me sigh in relief, my mind snickering as I imagine the rat changing into a man and then realizing he's still inside his old cage. I then nod at my brother thankfully and say: "The chapter will explain."
The Head Boy nods, his eyes now filled with worry and while I can only hope that the next two chapters will be over soon, does Percy ask: "Will you take Scabbers to the reading?" But I shake my head and say: "Not yet, if he sees Sirius he might try and undo everything I did for him. No, the truth comes first."
And pure pride shines in my brother's eyes, making the two of us share a smile before I take Scabber's cage again, greeting Oliver as he walks in and then move back to my own dorm, where Crookshanks is actually laid out over the footing of my bed, but instead of getting angry, do I just smile and wink at the smart little feline.
The ginger-furred cat looks at me with his flat face for a short while and then – as if he is an Animagus – does he nod before starting to lick his paws and cleaning himself. I then set Scabber's cage so that the rat doesn't see his enemy and whisper at Crookshanks: "Get out of here before he wakes. I don't want him distrusting me."
The cat moves himself to continue washing, yet the way he tilts his head looks almost as if he nods and while changing into more comfortable clothes, can I not help but think: "No wonder Sirius got him on his side so easily. That cat is as smart as Hermione." And this thought makes me leave the room with a smile.

Jeffrey's POV

The entire day, from when I woke to when we picked up Aunt Rosie, to the reading, have I been waiting for this moment and after Ron has asked his friends to join him as he changes cloths, do I say: "We need a Gang meeting." The others look at me, but the dream I had last night has yet to let go off me and they see this on my face.
The group nods and Jeremy puts his hand on one of the slabs, the stones all changing in height and even in position and while they now form a perfect circle is mine now also the smallest and his the largest, while his is standing closest to the center of the circle and mine the furthest, yet only by eight centimeters (3.15 inches).
The elder lad then lets several rocks pass us all behind our backs and says: "This meeting has been opened. Wind brother Jeffrey has the floor." I nod and allow for a strong gust of wind to pass us as I say: "Last night my nighttime activity was interrupted by something highly unusual, yet something I believe caused by the reading.

I saw through the eyes of another, someone named James and who felt – remembered. I believe this is due to something that took place during the reading of the Hogsmeade chapter, yet I cannot be sure. There were many things I saw before I was woken from this vision and I would now like to share them with the group."
Everyone nods and I say: "In the dream I saw that this James person was locked together at least two men and a woman. Their captor? Peter Pettigrew." This shocks the group and I nod, saying: "I am almost certain of it, yet I do not understand. According to what I heard were all of them hidden expertly and without a trace.
Pettigrew, I believe, wanted Sirius either killed or captured, so he wouldn't go looking for these people, yet I – I don't –." But then Rosaline gasps and asks: "Wind Brother Jeffrey, did you not just state that the name of the man you were spiritually inhabiting during the vision was named James?" I nod and she says:

"What if his last name – was Potter?" And my mind turns almost blank with thought as I realize that the girl sitting a few seats away from me might just have a valiant point. Then Jeremy stands up and says: "I suggest we postpone this Gang meeting and what we have discussed here until we can have Harry join our next one.
He knows more of the people named James and Lily and perhaps he will be able to confirm this. Wind Brother Jeffrey, until our next meeting, make certain you have every visual detail of your vision memorized, especially the looks of those you saw this James person to be with." I nod at the man, glad for his leadership and he says:
"This meeting has been postponed." And like always do we all allow a little of our powers to show, a leaf, a drop of water, a small ember, a bit of shadow wrapped around a speck of light, a small spoon, a shard and a small rock all floating around us on my gust of wind before it all vanishes, the spoon returning to one of the tables.
I then take a deep breath and release it as I had been using most of my powers to make wind be heard in the ears of any and all those who tried approaching or overhearing us and then the boy we all care for as our own comes in with his friends and Jeremy says: "We will hold our next meeting before the animal chapter." And we all nod.

Albus' POV

"I never thought something like this possible. The idea that Sirius and the rest of us are suffering from a Memory Alteration Ritual is one thing, but for this Ritual to affect our memories of the animosity between the Marauders and Severus is something I just cannot phantom, even if that is a widely-shared memory."
Goes through my mind, while I stay where I am, only nodding to Mr. Weasley and his friends after the younger lad admits to his need of changing into more easier cloths and while I feel it only beneficial for everyone in the school to stay out of formal robes until the books have been read, do I push this thought to the back of my mind.

Then Severus approaches me and asks: "Albus, are – are you?" And I nod, the man shocked when he sees that my eyes are shining with self-confidence and determination before I say: "The bond of hatred that was shared between you, some of your House Mates and the Marauders is a very widely-shared memory, Severus.
Therefore, it would be an ideal base for this Memory Alteration Ritual. I just don't understand why, but I do know as certain as that Slytherin's Mascot is a Serpent that you didn't lose a friend that fated day. I can't say for certain what did happen, the memory itself is blurry now, but the end part isn't and shows you with 6 new friends."
The man looks at me, his face passive, even if his eyes betray how shocked, devastated and lost he feels on the inside and then he asks: "Albus, can – could you – give me – descriptions of them? Of – of my – my lost friends?" I nod, relieved that I cast several privacy charms once I saw the man approach me and say:
"As I said, the end part of the memory is less blurry than the true memory that is currently trying to find a place within my mind, yet the only thing that is truly clear to me is you and the carefree smile that I see upon your face. However, I do see enough of your friends to give you – at the least – some vague descriptions."

The man nods and then I smile as I know I can give him some piece of heart as I lie a hand on his shoulder and say: "Yes, Severus. One of them is female, has red hair and has green eyes. She was still your friend after that fated day." And while the man keeps a passive face, can I clearly see the loss in his eyes replaced for utter joy.
I release the man's shoulder, knowing he's just not all that into human-contact and then cross my fingers together as I say: "Another two I see seem to be twins and they – if I have to make a guess – are two years your senior, Severus. There is also someone who looks younger than you, but he seems to only be 1 year younger."
The man nods and silently asks: "Anything else." I close my eyes to better focus on what I have been able to uncover of my slowly self-restoring memory and say: "There is one more female in the group, someone your year who has blond hair and who seems quite close to a male who is either in or one year above your year.
And the final three are all males, Severus and it seems as if one of them is growing closer to the younger male as well as you, but I cannot be certain. They are definitely related as they both have sleek black hair, where the last two have messy black and sandy –." But just when I finish that last word, do I stop in shock.

My eyes fly open and gaze straight into a pair of flabbergasted black eyes, Severus looking at me as if I just declared him Head of Gryffindor instead of Slytherin and he asks: "P-P-P-Potter? Potter and – and his – and his – and his – wait, the younger one's REGULUS?" And while I overthink his shout, do I realize the truth behind his words.
"He has to be, Severus. Sirius and Regulus both had sleek black hair and –." But then the man lets out a heartfelt shout before he rages: "I HELPED HIM! I HELPED POTTER GET TOGETHER WITH LILY! WHY! WHY WOULD I DO SUCH A THING! I LOVED HER SO WHY HELP POTTER GET TOGETHER WITH HER?"
But I have no answer for the poor man in front of me as my cleared up memory only goes so far as to that fated day at the end of his Fifth year and I say: "I don't know, Severus. However, I know you didn't start after becoming friends with them." The man glares at me with a burning challenge to explain and I say:
"In the small bit of cleared up memory that I do have, are Lily and James sitting on opposite sides of you. James is leaning against what I can only assume is Sirius, who seems in conversation with Regulus and Lily is – if the vague images I have in my mind are true – seated between you and the other female of the group."

The man seems to calm down with this, yet this also brings new confusion to my heart as I return my mental focus to the half of where James, Sirius and Regulus are seated together and while the man sighs and says: "Just let me know when you know more about those twins and the others that are still vague, alright?"
I nod and while the man leaves do I think: "But why? Why does James look as if he is leaning against his boyfriend or something? The stance he and Sirius are in does not resemble that of two people who consider each other brothers, so what is the secret behind this? What is that Memory Alteration Spell keeping me from seeing?"

But then, while I try ever so slowly to clear the mist shrouding the faces of the last few of Severus' apparent friends, does someone I have only seen in action since this reading started come over and ask: "Professor Dumbledore, would it be too bold to ask for a minute of your time?" And I smile at the woman as I say:
"Not at all, Mss. Rosie. How can I be of service?" The woman smiles at me and then hands me something as she says: "Jack once hit his head real nastily when he was six and had memory loss for a month. Rosaline created this flower and it helped his healing process immensely. Perhaps it can help you as well."
I smile at the kindness of the woman, but where her voice was soft and gentle at first, does her face then turn serious and strong, almost reminding me of the man I spoke with just minutes ago as she says: "I've been drinking this at every meal myself since coming here, Headmaster. Perhaps we could help each other?"

I nod at her, wondering why she should need this interesting herb for her tea and she sighs as she says: "Ever since I entered these halls have some of my memories become easier for me to access, yet pretty much my entire youth is one giant blanc. I remember my O.W.L.s, my N.E.W.T.s, my graduation and how I studied, but nothing else.
What I ate for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Whether I received any owls during my years, who my friends or my enemies or my rivals in classes were. I remember nothing of the sort and being here, I can sense them, yet I do not remember them. I was hoping if you could tell me if you remember in what year I first came here?"
I nod at her, my heart breaking at the fact that she doesn't even remember her friends and while the alikeness between her situation and that of my Potions Master does not escape me, do I ask: "May I ask for your name again, Miss?"
The woman smiles at me and then sighs as she says: "That's just it, Headmaster. I have known myself my entire life as Rosemary Periwinkle, but whenever I try to think of my teachers calling me that, do I draw a blank. I know I am named Rose, of that I am certain, but the Mary Periwinkle part is something that worries and confuses me."

I nod at the poor woman, unable to understand how someone could mentally hurt another person bad enough he or she could even make that person doubt their own name and then I suddenly realize something and say: "Mss. I think we just found a very vital clue in this whole mess." The woman looks at me and I say:
"Both Rosemary and Periwinkle are herbs used to restore and increase certain aspects of the brain. It would seem that whoever did all this to all of us – did it with the intention to push people away from you more than anyone else, which must be why you have lived in the Muggle world for so long. You hold a vital clue to our memories."
The woman looks shocked and asks: "But – but what kind of clue could – could I have? I – I remember my studies and remember that my O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s weren't the greatest – I only got the third highest score in Potions of my year – but else I remember nothing. I – I don't even remember receiving my first letter."

I sigh at this and say: "I cannot say for certain what clue you might hold to us, Mss. Rosie, but I doubt it was without reason that – whoever did this to us – made you believe your name is what you think it is. No, whoever did this wanted some kind of reminder, but not one too obvious, so he or she moved you to the Muggle world.
Out of sight for those that were affected as strong as you, yet at the same time in a place only he knew you had been send to. My only question is, why would he or she send you to that neighborhood?" But then the woman gasps and says: "Headmaster, a – a new memory just came up. One I should have realized much sooner."
I look at her, desperate for clues as to why any of this is happening and hoping – if nothing else – that this new memory can help her get a grasp of who she was before all this took place and then she says: "Headmaster, the date that I moved to the Privet Drive Community – was the third of November in nineteen-eighty-one."
And while my own memory brings me back to all the wards I found located around Harry's old home, can I barely believe that these two events took place on the same day and while dread and fear over my grandson's welfare fills me to the core, do I whisper: "Then your kidnapper – is a ward-expert, Mss. Rosie."
And this news seems to worry the woman even worse and while I can only hope that the rest of the coming hour passes over with the speed of my grandson's scar, do we part ways, neither of us wanting to worry the rest of our colleagues and loved ones before it's too late, but both of us wondering: "Who did all of this?"


Hey everyone,
Whew, what a chapter. I knew what I wanted, but the whole thing kind of took a life of its own and made me bring a small alteration to the previous chapter – which one can be found in the Top AN. Anyway, if you've read this story as well as I'm sure you all do, do I have two questions for you that I would like you to answer:
1. Who is Rosemary Periwinkle really? I wrote a description of her in chapter 5 and I wrote a few hints about her in this chapter, but I think only those who have read both chapters can guess it. 2. Who are the others that apparently became friends with Severus during his fifth? I already gave hints and I will leave it with that.
Enjoy the mystery,

Venquine1990